Speech #1030065467

Mr. Speaker. on Friday I introduced a bill with the gentleman from Florida to slam the door on terrorists. My bill would restore our Governments ability to deny visas to known members of terrorist organizations. This legislation was originally part of a bill I introduced 2 months ago. the Terrorist Interdiction Act of 1993. All the other provisions of that earlier bill passed the House as an amendment to the State Department authorization. But this provision is still awaiting action by the Judiciary Committee and I would urge the committee to include this provision in their immigration reform bill which may be marked up this week. In fact. the President is now unveiling his immigration package and I hope he would support this reform. The bill I introduced Friday would correct a legislative mistake of breathtaking proportions. The Immigration Act of 1990 raised the threshold for denying visas to terrorists. so now the Government must prove an individuals direct involvement in a past terrorist act. Last Thursday. a State Department witness testified before the Foreign Affairs Committee on this problem. He stated that today. membership in a terrorist organization. or even a terrorist conviction abroad. is not sufficient to deny a visa request to come to the United States. I urge the Judiciary Committee to take up my bill at the earliest possible opportunity. Each day of congressional inaction places American lives at risk.